Loose leaf binder



Nov. 28, `1939. J. SCHADE LOOSE LEAF BINDER 5 sheets-sheet 1 Filed May ll, 1938 NVENTOR 7c3/wv WADE ATTORNEYS Nov.f28, 1939. J. SCHADE LOOSE LEAF BINDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 1l, 1958 INVENTOR :fo/wv SCHADE BY WLM ya@ ATTORNEYS Nov. 28, 1939. J, SCHADE l 2,181,769

' LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed May l1, -1938 5 Sheets-Shet 3 52 l'- Il 4g 'IT-: El i f m i rl!! "4g Il um l I, l ,1 1nl I 70, IIII l 24 @D 0l. umg/,e4 5 ,/6 5

INVENTOR oH/vfSYcf/ADE BY ATTORNEYS Filed May 1l, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VENTOR JH/v SCHADE @a A TORNEY Nov. 28, 1939. J. SCHADE l LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed May ll, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 28, 1939 i i Unirse stars PATENT oFFIee LOGSE LEAF BINDER .lohn Schade, Holyoke, Mass., assigner to National Blank Beek Company, Holyoke, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Applicaticn May 11, 1938, Serial No. 207,195

7 Claims. (Cl. 129-17) This invention relates to an improvement in ing, however, spaced the distance between holes loose leaf binders particularly for visible index in the sheets they are to carry. Thus, posts on sheets. I disclosed a similar binder in my coeach side of the book are spaced from one anpending application Serial No. 107,023, filed other, on the same side, a multiple of the dis- October 22u 1936, now Patent No. 2,141,410, dated tance between a pair of posts i and 2. This is k December 27, 1938. one but not the only spacing arrangement, as

The binder now disclosed like my earlier one those familiar with such binders well know. has two sets of binding posts, one extending from When the book is opened from the closed poeach side into overhanging positions above the sition of Fig. 1 to the reading position of Fig. 3,

l binder back. The invention consists in the way the plan is to carry on a particular InodeY of ,10 these two sets of posts are shifted in their relaoperation with reference to the mo-vements of the tive positions for useful purposes, particularly posts. Starting from the positions of the posts for manipulating visible index sheets while holdin Fig. 3', it is desirable to shift them relatively ing them in the binder. The subject involves v through a complete cycle of movements, as folso much detail that it will be described with lows: rst, to the position of Fig. 5 where posts .15 reference to the accompanying drawings without on one side of the binder will not engage holes .further introduction. in the sheets on posts on the opposite side of the Fig. 1 shows the posts and binder parts in binder; second, to the position o-f Fig. 6 where book closed positions but with the cov-ers laid the posts on the right side have been moved up ,20 backend partly cut away; to give double the spacing between pairs of posts Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. l; I and 2; third, to the position of Fig. 7 where p Fig. 3 shows the posts and binder parts in .the posts are overlapped as in Fig. 3 but with normal position as the bookkeeper would use the the spacing between pairs as in Fig. 6; and then book for writing and reference purposes; just the reverse of the steps referred to so as Fig. 4 is a view on line i-fi of Figl; yto complete the `cycle back to the position of 25 Fig. 5 shows the posts and binder parts shifted Fig. 3. from the positionof Fig. 3 into position suitable The purpose of the steps in this cycle, as an for one set of posts t0 be shifted longitudinally example, is to help a bookkeeper rearrange his of the binder back to take diiier-ently spaced poindex sheets in the binder without taking the sitions with the .posts in the opposite set, but sheets out of the binder. He does this with the -30 with the covers removed; sheets wanted for rearrangement exposed on the Fig. 6 shows the parts of Fig. 5 in llgtudright-hand side and held by the posts on that nally shifted positions; side. When the posts are shifted to the position Fig. '7 Shows the parts of Fig. 6 again in overof Fig. 7, the sheets to be changed in position lapped positions; are turned over to rest on the left-hand side of A35 Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are assembly views showing the book. Then the posts on the right-hand side the details of the mechanism for shifting the are shifted back to position of Fig. 3 and the prongs longitudinally; sheets are turned over to the right-hand side. In

Fig. 11 is a detail view of the mechanism for going back to the right-hand side the sheet per- '40 locking the binder in its closed position; forations engaged by the posts on that side will ylo Fig. 12 is a section on line 12-12 of Fig. 1; be those spaced-one unit below the perforations Fig. 13 is a section on line l3-l3 of Fig. 5; originally engaged by the same right-hand set Figs. 14 and 15 are sections respectively on of posts. Thus, the Visible sheets so handled are lines l4--I4 and l-i of Fig. 11; all moved up in the book the distance between Fig. 16 is a detail section on line Iii-i5 of their perforatio-ns or one unit, because they were 45 Fig. 1; and moved up on the right-hand side, laid on the left'- Fig'. 17 is a detail section on line i'l-ll of hand posts to hold them up while the right-hand Fig. 1. posts `.were shifted back to their original position VThe binder shown has a set of arched posts l, in line to take the shifted sheets back one peroverhanging the back from the right, and anforation below 'their former holding positions. 50 other set 2 from the left. These posts are shown It will be obvious that the sheets may be lowered by Figs. 1 and 2 in closed book position. They rather than raised in the binder with the help overlap each other the maximum distance transof the same cycle of movement for the posts but versely of the back and are arranged in widely a different turning of the sheets. Infollowing .spaced pairs, the posts of each spaced pair bethrough the steps it will be noted that the shifted k55 fst sheets were constantly held by one set of posts. At no time was it necessary for the sheets to be taken off the posts and this is a highly desirable condition. Otherwise, a set of index sheets can cause the bookkeeper a lot of trouble in getting out of order. Keeping them on the posts keeps them in order and that is v/hy the book is used.

The present invention consists in the mechanism and mode of operation and convenient arrangement of parts for shifting the posts as stated, and in some detailed binder structure related to the main purpose. The specific structure shown in the drawings can be varied in many ways and the specific illustration is by way of example, except where specifically claimed. This specic example will now be described in detail.

Referring to Fig. 2, the back of the binder has a center line hinge pintle 5. On this are mounted two angular sheet metal hinge leaves 6 and l' with ears like a piano hinge construction. Leaves 6 and 'I are each bent with a horizontal portion having an upstanding and a depending flange. The pintle is at the bottom edges of both depending flanges. Thus, the main frame of the binder back is U-shaped with a depending leaf hinge arrangement along the center line at the bottom.

The hinge leaves 6 and 'I' are constantly urged together by a stiff leaf spring 3l, of generally circular cross-section, which is snapped into slots in the horizontal surfaces of plates 6 and 'I (see Figs. 1 and 17).

Stiff book covers 3 and l are hinged respectively on pintles I0 ,and II at (the upper edges of the U-shaped metal back frame made by plates 6 and 'I. This is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The parts 8' and 9, seen in'Fig. 2, are merely stiff fiber hood sections riveted to the sides of the U-frame to cover up sheet metal construction and improve the appearance.

Lying within the upstanding flanges of the U- frame formed by plates 6 and 7 are the prongcarrying plates or bars lll and i6 to which are riveted the prongs 2 and l respectively of each prong set. During the longitudinal shifting of the index sheets referred to above, plate IIl remains stationary while plate I6 is shifted back and forth longitudinally of the U-frame by a mechanism to be explained later.

Between the upstanding anges of plates 6 and 7 and the hoods 8 and 9 are mounted anchoring plates and I3 which pass over the upper edges of the prong-carrying plates Id and i6 and firmly hold said plates in position against the horizontal and vertical surfaces of plates 'I and 6. As is clear from Figs. 1 and 2, the ears I3 and i3 pass between the hinge eyes on the plates 6 and 'I.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 8, overlying plate 6 is a slide I8, angular in cross-section and with a handle I9 at one end. This slide is mounted to be moved, using the handle I9, from the position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 7. The amount of movement of slide I8 between the positions of Figs. 3 and '7 is represented by the length of the slots 20 and 2l, which are cut in the horizontal surface of plate 6, see Fig. 8. Slide I8 is held tightly against the horizontal surface of plate 6 by shouldered pins 22 and 23 which are riveted to slide I8 with their shouldered parts underlying plate 6, and which slide in slots 20 and 2|. Additional anchorage for slide 8 is provided by a clip 24 spot Weldedlto plate 6, see Figs. 1 and 8. y

At'that endYofY-slid'e I8 remote from handle "I9 I2 and I5 having hook-shaped ears I3 aielfmo is riveted a cam 25 generally arcuate in crosssection except where it is attached to the surface of slide i8, see Figs. 1 2, and 4. Cam 25 has V an irregular slot composed of 4two generally slanting sections 28' and 29 and a composite center 5 section, which last is made up of a straight edge 3U on one sid-e of the slotv and a `peaked section 3| on the opposite side. The cam 25 has `a tongue 32 opposite the peaked section for strength, which tongue 32 in the closed position of the book ex- 10 v tends through a slot out in plate '1, see Fig. 2.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 13, the slot in cam 25 is of the correct width to accommodate a roller 35 pivoted on gooseneck 36, this latter passing through a slot in plate 'l' and being rivl5 eted to the under surface of said plate. As the slide I8 is moved manually from the position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 7 the roller 35 will follow normally the slanting edge 28, the straight edge 3i), and then the slanting edge 29 (see Figs. 3 and 5 through 7) because of the spring pressure of spring 31 already referred to. Bearingin mind that plates 6 and l are pivoted together, it is clear that this motion'of the slide will separate the prongs I and 2 When the roller 35 is 25 passing along section 28, keep them open as the roller passes along edge 33, and clos-e them again as the roller passes along section 29.

As was explained previously, the prong sets I and 2 must be separated sufciently so that they do not enter the holes in the index sheets carried by each other, before the sheets are shifted longitudinally. Therefore, the slanting sections 28 and 2'9 are of appropriatedimensions to accomplish this. When, therefore, the roller 35 has reached the position of Fig. 5, the prongs I and 2 are ready to be shifted, and it is while the roller 35 is passing along the straight edge 30 from the position of Fig. 5 to that of Fig. 6 that the longitudinal shift of the prong set i is Jmade, by mechanism to be explain-ed later. However, it is also true that the only thing necessary is that the prong sets l and 2 be kept separated just enough during the'longitudinal shifting so that they do not interfere with the index sheets 'carried by each other. If the prong sets are separated further, the longitudinal shifting will not be affected. This being so, the peaked section v'3l of the cam slot allows the operator to spring the plates 6 and l further apart during the longi- ,v tudinal shifting of the prong sets'to easily insert new sheets or remove old ones.

The longitudinal shifting of the prong set I is done by a'rack and gear mechanism showngenerally in Figs. 1 and 12, with the details of the operation shown in Figs. 8 through 10. Prong plate I6 has a short angle plate 38 welded to it `at a point on its horizontal offset. The angle plate has one arm 39 extending down through a slot cutin plate 5, said depending arm 39 having am() set of rack teeth cut' along the bottom edge." These rack teeth are engaged by thoseon a.`gear 48 pivoted to plate, so that the motion lo-f lsaid gear shifts the prong' set I. Gear 4l) normally is either in the position shownfin Figs. 1 and 8,35 or that shown in Fig. 10, and these positions are controlled by the slide I8. When the slide I8 is in the position shown in Fig. 8, the prong'sets are in their separated but non-shifted ,position of Fig. 5; while when the slide is in the/positionfm of Fig. 10, the prongs are in their 'separatedkt and shifted position corresponding to Fig.. '7. The plate I6 is itself guided during theshifting operations by plate 43 riveted to the nupper Send 'of plate 6, and overlying vthe 'offset portion -Lof 15 plate I6, as well as the ears I3 already referred to.

Gear 4D has a pair of ears 44 and 44 with a notch 45 between them. A portion of gear 46 extends through notches 48 and 49 cut out of the angle made by the horizontal and vertical flanges of plates 6 and I8-see Figs. 4 and 12. A tongue 46 formed integrally with the slide I8 and located at the upper end of slot 49 is of the correct proportion to fit notch 45 in the gear 40, to rotate the gear from the position of Fig. 8 to that of Fig. 10 and thereby shift prongs I longitudinally.

The length of slot 49 is such that tongue 46 will not engage the notch 45 as slide I8 is moved, until the prongs are in their separated position shown in Fig. 5. On the other hand the length of slot 48 is merely that necessary to allow gear 40 to turn from one position to the other.

To prevent the prong set I from being prematurely shifted, that is before the prongs are in their separated position, I provide locking slots 5D and 50 in the gear 40, see Fig. 8. Slot 50, when the gear is in the position of Fig. 8, is in line with slot 2I in plate 6, and the head of shouldered pin 23 already referred to, lies in this slot 50. As the slide I8 starts to move downward, pin 23 slides along slot 50, thereby preventing the gear 40 from being turned. By the time pin. 23 has cleared slot 56, the tongue 46 is sliding along the edge of ear 44 and the gear 46 cannot turn until the tongue 46 reaches notch 45-see Fig. 9.

After the gear 40 is turned to its shifted position of Fig. 10, tongue 46 Will slide along the edge of ear 44. By the time tongue 46 has cleared the end of ear 44, slot 50 will be engaged by a locking pin 5I carried, as shown, by slide I8. Plate 6 is provided with an appropriate slot for the pin 5I to slide freely in. Also, referring to Figs. 1 and 12, I have cut away a part 52 of the horizontal surface of plate Ito accommodate the ear 44 of gear 46 in the closed position of the book.

From the above description it can be seen that there is no possibility of any movement on the part of prongs I until the prong sets have been separated by the slide I8 reaching the position of Fig. 5.

Referring to Figs. 1, l1, and 14, the gooseneck member 36 at the beginning of the curve of the gooseneck is provided with a notch 53 in which a locking member 54, asociated with plate 6 and having a tongue 55, is bottomed-thereby providing a means to lock the binder in its closed position. Member 54 extends, as shown clearly in Fig. 11, to the bottom of the binder where the end is bent at right angles a short distance beyond the end of plate 6. At this point a Z- shaped plate 56 .(see Fig. 15) is welded to the bottom of plate 6 and lies with the shorter leg abutting the depending leg of the plate 6 and under member 54. A flap 5l, see Fig. 1l, bent out of the plate 56, extends from the short leg to the bottom of plate 6 and parallel to the edge of plate 6 to form with plate 6 a box-like enclosure for a spring pressed plunger 58. Said plunger is in the form of a shouldered pin 66 extending through the flap 5l with the head outside flap 51 and the opposite end riveted to the end of locking member 54. Thus, tongue 55 of member 54 is releasably retained in notch 53. As is shown in Figs. 11 and 14, a web 64 is Welded to the bottom of plate 6; to strengthen the binder construction at that point and also support the end of member 54. This web 64 has a short tongue 65 underlying member 54 with the vertical edge 66 abutting said member 54. This not only provides vertical support for member 54, but likewise keeps it against the depending leg of plate 6.

When the operator wants to open the book from. the closed position of Fig. 1 to its normal reading position of Fig. 3, he simply presses the end of member 54 and the roller 35 rises up into the cam slot as the weight o-f the binder backs is sufficient to overcome the tendency of spring 31 to keep them in the closed position of the book. l

As is indicated in Figs. 14 and 11, the curved gooseneck portion of member 35 has a depending flange 6l which starts at the notch 53 and curves towards the opposite edge of member 35. This provides a simple method of camming tongue 55 up so that it will drop into notch 53 when the book is closed.

As Will be appreciated from Fig. 13, when the gooseneck member 35 swings up into the cam slot, it must pass through openings in plates 6 and I 8. Therefore, I provide suitable notches 58 and 69 out in the horizontal surface of these parts-see Figs. 8 through 10.

Referring now to Fig. 16,l plate 'I is bent downward to form an end closure between the fiber back 8 and the plate itself. While only one end closure is shown it will be understood that the same operation is performed at the other end of this plate. Likewise, plate 6 may be so constructed to form a closure for the back 9 beneath it. Also, I have attached an angle piece 'I0 to plates l and I4 corresponding in height to that of handle I9 of slide I8. The operator can then hold onto piece 'Ill with one hand while he conveniently operates the slide I8 with the other.

As a further refinement I have shaped the ends of the slot in cam 25 with arcuate portions 12 and 'I3 conforming to the shape of roller 35, see Fig. l, so that when the slide I6 is in the position of Fig. 3 or Fig. 7, the roller 35 rests in a definite notch and there is less likelihood of the slide I8 being disturbed while the sheets are being manipulated by the operator.

As is evident from the preceding description, my binder combines many improved construction features of the constituent parts with a simpler mode of operation to achieve a particularly convenient form of binder for this type of work.

What I claim is:

1. In a binder construction for visible index sheets, two sets of oppositely disposed prongs, relatively movable prong supports mounted in the binder to permit one set of prongs to be moved back and forth from an overlapped to a separated position of said prongs as well yas to and from two oiTset positions relatively to the other set of prongs for sheet binding and index shifting purposes in the binder, constraining means cooperating with both of the prong supports to require a change in said overlapped position to take place transversely of the binder far enough to open the prongs for the ends thereof to be free of index sheets before any change can take place in said oiset positions and then allow the change in the oliset positions to take place While preventing any return to the overlapped position of said sprongs Where their ends are not free of index sheets during the change in offset positions, but permitting additional separation of said prongs during the change in oiset positions, and finally requiring a return of the prongs to the original overlapped position after the change' in the oifset position is completed, and an actuator operable in one direction to push or in an opposite direction to pull a prong support for coaction against said contraining means, for a sequential operation of iirst changing the overlapped position, then oiset position, and then the overlapped position according to the aforesaid requirement of said contraining means.

2. A binder having centrally pivoted back portions and a set of prongs supported by each back portion, one of such sets being mounted for longitudinal movement between two oiset positions relative to the other set and cam mechanism operable to move the relatively pivoted back portions and one set of prongs all in a sequential operation whereby the prongs are spread, offset and overlapped in alternate offset positions upon successive operations` of said cam mechanism, said cam mechanism being constructed to allow a separation of the prong sets while said sets are being offset, only after the prong sets have been rst separated a deffinite amount without any change in the offset position.

3. A binder having a back portion including two-hingedly connected plates, a set of prongs supported at the side edge o-f each plate, a slidable bar carrying one set for movement longitudinally of one plate, a rack bar attached to said slidable bar, a pinion on one back plate engaging said rack bar, a slidable cam carrying plate associated with one back plate for operating said pinion, and means connecting the other plate to said cam, whereby upon sliding the cam carrying plate the prong sets are moved back and forth transversely of the binder and one set is moved longitudinally of the other in sequential operation, said cam being constructed to allow, when the plate is reciprocated between its limits, first only a transverse movement of the prong sets, then a composite longitudinal and further transverse movement of the prong sets and iinally another transverse movement of said prong sets in the reverse direction.

4. The structure of the foregoing claim 3, having the cam constructed to allow, when the plate is reciprocated between limits, rst only a transverse movement of the prong sets and then either a composite longitudinal and transverse movement o-r only a longitudinal movement of the prong sets and finally another transverse movement of the prong sets in the reverse direction,

5. A binder composed of two back plates each having an upstanding'flange at the outside edge and a depending flange at the inner edge, a hinge connecting the lower edges of the depending flanges, a set of prongs supported from each upstanding flange, a slidable plate carrying one of said sets, a device the position of which determines the relative position of the back plates on their hinge, mechanism which when engaged with said device and said slidable plate is op"-` erable to move said device and plate in sequential operation to separate the prongs transversely of the binder, then offset them while allowing additional separation and finally shift them again transversely to their original transverse position whereby the relative position of the prongs in the binder is changed for sheet manipulating purposes, and a releasable locking member which a slidable cam-carrying plate associated with one-v` back plate for moving said pinion to shift the prong set longitudinally, the interrelation ofthe pinion and the cam-carrying plate being such'as to makethe position of the pinion at al1 times controlled by the cam-carrying plate, and means y connecting the other plate tosaid cam whereby upon sliding the cam-carrying plate the prong sets are moved back and forth transverselyl of the binder and one set is moved longitudinally of the other in sequential operation, said cam being constructed to cause a positive transverse movement of the prong sets before and after the cam carrying plate has moved said set longitudinally and to allow additional separation of said sets during said longitudinal movement.

7. A binder having a back portion including two hingedly connected plates, a set of prongs supported at the side edge of each plate, a slidable bar carrying one set for movement longitudinally ofV one plate, a rack bar attached to said slidable bar, a pinion rotatable tov either of two positions to move the slidable prong set longitudinally, said pinion having a pair of ears with locking slots cut in them and a notch between, them, an operating slide for said pinion reciprocable between limits and having a Xed lug to slide along the edges of said ears and enter said notch to rotate the pinion from one position to the other as the slide is moved, and a pair' of pins carried on said operating slide for engagement with said locking slots, the construction of' the pins, lug, and pinion being such that except `during rotation of the pinion the pinion is held in position during reciprocation of the slide either by one of the pins being located in its locking slot or by the engagement of said xed lug along an outer edge of one of said ears.

JOHN SCHADE. 

